Games of the Week
by asalom on Jan 3, 2011 5:01 PM MST
in UTEP Miners Basketball
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PrintBowl season is over for Conference USA, but conference play is just about underway in basketball. We've got some good ones to look forward to as the first week of conference provides some real interesting matchups. As a whole we did great prior to the start of league games. None of the 12 C-USA teams are under .500 at this point, and the top 9 have a record of 8-5 or better. This week will definitely give us some insight as to how good some of these teams really are. Here are the games of the week.
5.) CBB: Southern Mississippi (11-2) @ Marshall (10-3) January 8th 7:00 p.m. et
A matchup of two teams who won 10+ games in non-conference. The Golden Eagles only loss came on the road at Ole Miss, and at home versus Colorado St. They also have some solid wins at USF, at CAL, and against Saint Louis. Marshall dropped some games early in the season to Chatanooga and Louisville, but have won 7 of 8 since. The Thundering Herd take on nationally ranked UCF on Wednesday which will definitely show us where they stand.
OUTLOOK: Gary Flowers is big time, he's shooting better than 50% from 3. So. Miss in a close one 78-74.
4.) CBB: Marshall (10-3) @ No. 18 Central Florida (13-0) January 5th 7:00 et
UCF has done nothing but knock down everyone that has stood in their way. They are led by sophomores Keith Clanton and Marcus Jordan. Both players are averaging about 16 points a game and shooting better than 45% from beyond the arc. Marshall is definitely a talented team also, but UCF is too tough at home.
OUTLOOK: Thirteen in a row, and nothings changing right now. UCF 81-70.
3.) CBB: UTEP (12-3) @ Alabama-Birmingham (10-2) January 8th 4:00 p.m. et
The Blazers have four players averaging double figures in points. Jamar Sanders and Cameron Moore both average 17+ a game, while Aaron Johnson and Ovie Soko average about 10 a contest. Their only two losses were on the road at ASU by 3, and at Georgia by 2. Mike Davis is a great coach, and one thing that's guaranteed is his team will be ready to play. The Miners can beat anyone in conference, but have been playing fairly inconsistent as of late, and haven't done much on the road yet. This will be another big test.
OUTLOOK: I really hope I'm wrong, but we usually don't play well on the road. UAB takes it 77-72.
2.) CBB: No. 22 Memphis (11-2) @ Tennessee (9-4) January 5th 9:00 p.m. et
A matchup of two teams who have underachieved thus far this season. Memphis came into the year with one of the best recruiting classes in the country, but have yet to really put it together. They have struggled against much lesser competition, and have dropped the big games that would've proven a lot. Tennessee got up to no. 7 in the nation midway through December, but quickly dropped as they lost three in a row to Oakland, Charlotte, and USC. This one is a must win for Memphis if they want to stay relevant in the national conversation.
OUTLOOK: The Tigers win their first big game of the season, 68-65.
1.) Alabama-Birmingham (10-2) @ No. 1 DUKE (13-0) January 5th 7:00 p.m. et
We've already heard about UAB so here it goes with DUKE. Reigning national champions, no. 1 in the nation, Coach K, Cameron Crazies, enough said. I don't think there is any way UAB wins this one, but they will keep it closer than people think.
OUTLOOK: DUKE moves to 14-0, 86-72.
BONUS GAMES:
CBB: OLE MISS (11-3) @ Southern Methodist (9-4) January 5th 7:00 p.m. et
SMU started 4-4, but have won 5 straight to get to 9-4. Ole Miss has played a decent non-conference schedule and got 11 wins out of it.
OUTLOOK: Ole Miss wins a close one, 71-67.
CBB: Tulsa (7-6) @ UTEP (12-3) January 5th 9:05 p.m. et
Tulsa lost a lot from last year's team, namely big man Jerome Jordan. The Miners continue to roll at home.
OUTLOOK: UTEP improves to 13-3, 76-68.
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CUSA Bball
Now that football season is essentially done for me (UTEP, Vikings), it feels good to be able to focus on UTEP hoops, I noticed our RPI is now at 90 which is pretty much where i thought it would be after our losses. The Pacific loss still stings and I thought we would definitely play better against BYU, but it was obvious they are a level above us. We now have to pray that Mich plays better and heck even Sam Houston because they are still in the top 100 RPI as of this morning. Maybe Air Force can be decent in a tough MWC and i’m not really counting on much from T-Tech.
Looking ahead, ive done the math and see us going 12-4 with the chance to go 13-3 in conference play. Losses I believe will be at USM, UAB, either Tulsa or Hou (seems like we always drop at least one to them) and hopefully i’m wrong, but UCF or Memphis at home.
Obviously those two last games are the key ones and they are both at the DHC which is huge…oddly enough, UAB wasnt scheduled to play in EP this year, which I think is a shame because it seems like we have had some real battles with them in recent years and Mike Davis just seems like a guy UTEP fans like getting after. Another oddity is that we dont play Memphis twice every year…CUSA makes a mistake by not getting two of its bigger bball programs together twice every year (IMO).
And did I miss something or did CUSA go to a normal division pattern where we play West teams twice and East teams once? It hasnt been like that in recent years. But either way the West div is considerably easier this season and much of the power is out East. Thats where I come up with 12-4….2 games against, Rice, Tulane and SMU, Tul, HOU.
This all means we should have a nice path in the CUSA tourney to go deep ( it honestly maybe a reason the schedule worked out in our favor, who knows ).
UCF is obviously the big surprise here and I think they have put themselves in great position to get an at large bid even if they dont win either the reg season or tournament.
Memphis is a different story and there has to be some major concern there. They just havent done it for me so far and havent played up to their potential. I even think Southern Miss and UAB will give them a real run for the second best team on that side of the conference. Sorry it was long, but just my two cents, should be exciting the rest of the way. GO UTEP!
Very valid points
I see our conference schedule turning out somewhat the same, which would put us at 24-25 wins. Win a game or two in the conference tourney and we should set for an at large. I don’t think we’ll be held out with 27 wins, and wins over Mich, Tech, and hopefully at least one of the two at home vs UCF/Memphis.
I thought the C-USA schedule usually was that “normal division pattern”, but you’re right, we have played UAB twice in the last couple years which would obviously go against that.
You’re also right about Memphis. But to be honest, they just need to pick up this one over Tennessee and they’ll be ok. I don’t see them losing more than 3 games in conference, and that should keep them relevant in the national scene. They should also pick up a win over a struggling Gonzaga squad in a few weeks. Also, keep an eye on Memphis from Jan 15th through the 29th.They play Marshall, at USM, at UAB, vs UCF, and at Marshall. That stretch will determine a lot for that team.
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